Comano to the top of San Bernardo

Today we took the bus to Comano, which is the town we lived in for 1 year, 10 years ago. We always enjoy a visit back there, to see what changes have been made, and hike some of our favorite paths. Last year it rained so much that not once did we have a chance to hike there. 

So today we were walking up higher in the town when we saw a helicopter doing some work. This often happens in Switzerland. They will use helicopters for construction of a home or delivery of a large item. Sometimes a truck can't maneuver the narrow roads. This helicopter was working with some lumberjacks - taking the cut wood over to another area to pile it up. It's always fun to watch this, but then our entire hike up the mountain was so loud with this helicopter moving back and forth! 

Back down in Comano, we stopped in our favorite little grocery store called "da Gina", which basically means "Gina's place". Gina is the elderly lady who runs the store, and when we lived here, she was our "go to" person for any kind of info on what was happening in town! 
As usual, she was so happy to see us. Since it was noon, she invited us to a restaurant in Comano called Osteria Ronchetto. She wanted to treat us to lunch. We had a lovely time and ate pasta and polenta. Gina says that she feels so touched that we come to see her every time we are in Switzerland. We love seeing Gina! She is our Ticinese grandmother! 

 This is one of the little streets in the old section of Comano. They are re-doing all the water lines and sewers. As you can see, it is quite a project! The space is so narrow between the buildings, and you can see the black tubing along the buildings so they can have water during this long reconstruction. 

 Helicopter ready to lift up a large log. 

 On the way up to San Bernardo (where there is a little chapel), we saw these new bas relief sculptures of the stations of the cross. In Comano lives a famous Swiss sculptor, Nag Arnoldi. These are his works. There are quite a number of 3 dimensional sculptures by Nag Arnoldi in Comano. 

 Ahhh, finally at the top! Looking down on Lugano and the lake. 

 A view to the east from the top of San Bernardo

 We sat on a bench for a while with this view. Gee, we could have had a bar-b-que! 

Carona to Vico Morcote and Morcote

A panoramic from under the porticos along the lake in Morcote, Switzerland

It was another very clear day with unusually warm temperatures for this time of year. Rick and I got on the 9:18 bus and headed up to Carona - a very quaint, tourist destination down the slope behind Mont San Salvatore. We began our hike high up along this mountain peninsula - where Lake Lugano surrounds 3 sides. The trail was well marked, but took us much longer than the posted time, but of course we have to stop for pictures and just take in the surroundings. 

Our first destination on the hike was a large meadow high up called Alpe Vicania. There was a restaurant there, but I know better by now - it's only March, and it's also a Monday. The likelihood of finding it open was nil. I was right. So we continued down to Vico Morcote. I knew that would be a steep decent - a labor of love for whoever made that trail of stone steps. Oh my knees after that long hike and all these steps down! And then it was the same story in Vico Morcote - restaurants closed because it's either March or Monday! Fortunately there was a bus coming by soon near the church. 

At the exact posted time, a "bus" came by - actually, a small van, with a small "posta" sign (the post office runs some of the bus lines to smaller towns) and also "scuola" (school). The van stopped and we asked - is this the bus? The young driver got out and came around to open the door. Yes! this is the bus! There was one child in the van, and we picked up more kids along the way - they had gone home for lunch and were going back to school - so basically we were on the school bus with the kids! It was really cute - we told them we were from Chicago. Then the kid behind us pops up his head and says in perfect English - I'm from New York! And another kid was from Miami! They just happened to have very international parents who decided to move to Vico Morcote (and who must have some money) 
This was really a highlight to find ourselves riding with the kids! 

The bus dropped us off down in Morcote, which is along the lake - one of our favorite towns - it is SO picturesque and quaint, and there are many very good restaurants under the old porticos along the lake. It was a nice, relaxing end to our 3 hour hike! Phew! I am totally wiped out. 

 Part of the town of Carona

Rick in Carona

 Along our walk in the woods - looking west . The large snowcapped mountain on the left is the second tallest in the Alps - Monte Rosa.

Playing around with the panoramic. Rick walked from left to right while I panned the camera. He is like a ghost in the middle! 

 Rick in the Alpe Vicania. The view is looking south, in the direction of Varese and finally Milan, Italy. 

 A view from Alpe Vicania looking west, to a town high up in the mountains in Italy, (you can see the town of Marzio, Italy) with Monte Rosa in the background (snowcapped, on left).

 As we walked down the east side of the mountain headed down to Vico Morcote, I took this picture of the town of Brusino, Switzerland, along Lake Lugano. The forested mountain above Brusino is Monte San Giorgio, a UNESCO world heritage sight for its abundance of prehistoric marine life.

 Another view of Lake Lugano, with Monte Generoso (with snow) straight ahead. 

 Coming down the side of the mountain looking over Vico Morcote.  It looks like Vico Morcote is along the lake front, but it's really still quite high up! 

 Rick heading down the mountain steps to Vico Morcote

 We are finally reaching Vico Morcote!

 One of the narrow "streets" in Vico Morcote

 Oh Yes! We were thirsty! Enjoying a Panache at the Osteria die Portici in Morcote. 

 The restaurant under the porticos in Morcote

Another restaurant with seating right over the lake. The couple on the patio were waving for our picture! I didn't realize it until afterwards. We ended up making some new friends! 

From Cureggia to Bré and meadows of Bré

Friday, March 14, 2014

March 13 - The uphill hike from Cureggia to Bré, mountain meadows, park trees & funny grocery item

We have still had beautiful, sunny days here in Lugano, but there is a haze in the air so the mountains are not quite so clear. I wanted to take Rick on the hike between Cureggia and Bré, but today we went the other direction - more of an uphill hike. We took the bus to Cureggia and began from there,

 Rick along the switchbacks going up hill

 This is becoming our lunch spot! Overlooking Lugano.

 Coming around the mountain, the town of Bré comes into view. 

 One of the trails that will lead up to Monte Boglia (with the snow in the distance. It's about a 3 hour hike from here. I want to go up there someday! 

 That's Rick playing on the playground's zip line! 

 We are in a meadow near the town of Bré. The mountains in the distance are on the other side of the lake and are part of Italy. 

 Direction: Switzerland

Rick enjoying the view!

Tesserete to Odogno

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

March 12 - Tesserete to Odogno

 We took the bus to the town of Tesserete. A sunny day today but still with the bit of haze. We really didn't know where we wanted to go, so we just followed one of the hiking signs to see where it would lead us! On the way, I took this picture looking back down on Tesserete.

 Passing through the nucleo of an area nearby called Campestro.  I love these old, stone areas!

 Another part of the area called Campestro. It's so charming in these areas, which are found in almost every old center of every town, but it's not always easy to live there. It's hard to always walk on the uneven stones, and of course, there are no cars in these areas (well, there are if the lane is wide enough!) So every time you need to use your car, you have to walk out into some parking area.

So the hiking sign, which can also just say "sentiero", (path), led us into a valley. On the way we see this sheep. Hey fellow, who was your hairdresser!!!! Poor thing just had clumps of wool here and there.

Muzzano to Breganzona

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

March 11 Exploring a new corner of the Lugano area. Muzzano to Breganzona

Hiking around Lake Muzzano with Monte Bré and Monte Bolla in background.

Today Rick and I decided to hop on the bus and explore places we see all the time but just have never explored. We stopped by the little Lago Muzzano and followed the hiking trail around 1/2 the lake. The path then led up to the center of the town of Muzzano. The old centers of towns are called the Nucleo. It was very charming and all the old homes in the Nucleo were renovated and so cool with great balconies!

From there we followed both the road and paths upward. From a distance we had seen a church at the top, so we headed in that direction. (It's not the church you see across the lake in the above picture - it is much higher.)

Old wash house from 1914

A few towns still have their original washhouses. This one wasn't quite that old, only from 1914, but there is a large tub under this roof. The laundry was brought here to be washed. This was up above Muzzano. 

 A terraced park we found as we came up the path. An awesome place to relax! 

Such pleasant things we discover! And every town has shortcut paths to go upwards, and for sure there are always paths leading to a church! 

Rick at the top looking out from the church terrace in Biogno (very small town above Muzzano)

A little hazy today, but the view is still mysterious! 
With the use of my map app on my iPhone, we headed in the direction of Breganzona, where I know there is a bus to take us back to town. The map app also will show where the bus stops are - very handy! After lunch, we did some grocery shopping. The sign below was above some apples at Manor. These are things that can baffle an American! The map app - a free, non-online map app that uses satellite - very handy! Called Galileo

Pregassona Nucleo loop to Pregassona church

I began this hike in the Pregassona nucleo, worked my way up to Via Fontana Verde. There are two paths - one begins at one end of via Fontana Verde, and the higher path begins at the very end/upper part of Via Fontana Verde. The lower loop takes about 30 minutes, the upper loop about an hour. They both end up on the path back to the church in Pregassona. 

Here are a few pictures along my mountain hike. I often stop, turn around, and take time to observe things around me. So much time is spent watching where my feet are going. It's important to stop and enjoy. My hike made a loop, finishing up by the main church in Pregassona. The funny thing about hiking in Switzerland - sometimes the path takes you right through someone's property. I walked right  past some sheep - no fence. So funny how they just stared at me! 

And remind me not to end up by the church at noon. The bells started ringing and boy did I jump! They were SO loud! 

I love all the moss on the trees and the little spring flowers coming up

Spring flowers!

A mountain stream - The Swiss always manage to control all the water coming down from the mountains! 

The typical red Swiss bench. Oh, I think a little boy lost his gloves. The trekking poles are mine. 

This hike has a couple of grottos. With burning candles inside!

Monte Bré to Cureggia

Friday, March 7, 2014

March 7, 2014 - A beautiful day for a hike from Monte Bré to Cureggia

View of Lake Lugano, Mont San Salvatore, the city of Lugano, and the snowcapped Alps, taken from the top of Monte Bré

Oh, I am SO enjoying the beautiful weather here, and I'm taking advantage of every moment. It was such a long, cold winter in Chicago, so it feels so good to get outside. 

Today I took the bus up to the town of Bré, which is just down the slope from Monte Bré. I first hiked to the top because I knew the view would be fantastic! There is a restaurant up there with a large terrace, although it is closed at this time of year - but the terrace is still open to check out the view. Magnificent! Basically I could see as far as the earth would let me. It is awesome to see the majestic Monte Rosa, which is the second tallest mountain in the entire Alps, after Mont Blanc. 

After the summit, I then walked back down to the town of Bré, which sits sort of in a cradle between two mountains. From there I took the trail along the mountainside towards the town of Cureggia, which actually sits up on a high ledge above my town, Pregassona. I wanted to do this hike last year, but dry, sunny days were so far and few between, and when we did get a decent day, I didn't go because there had been so much rain and I knew the path could be more dangerous. 

Oh, what a nice hike this is! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the best part is that since there are no leaves on the trees, the view is much better than in the summertime. It was about 55-60 degrees, sunny, and no wind. Perfect! 

I have lots of pictures, and I'm sorry if some look similar to pictures from last year, but I never tire of the splendid view and I never stop thanking God for this opportunity to view his wondrous artwork! I am blessed....

Along my hike up to the top of Monte Bré. Looking down on Lake Lugano

Zooming in on Lugano and Monte Rosa

What a great place for a picnic! 

The perfect picnic spot. The town is Bré and all the other mountains seen are part of Italy. 

Hiking down the backside of Monte Bré.

Stairway back down to Bré

A panoramic view. Snow up on the left is Monte Bolla. Town of Bré in the middle. Italy in the background and on the right. The lake is Lake Lugano

Now I am on the trail between Bré and Cureggia. Great trail, isn't it?

View along the trail. A passing hiker took my picture. This is where I ate the lunch I packed. :-)

Spring flowers already in the mountains! 

A bit of a panoramic picture of my picnic spot.

A selfie of me eating my sandwich, made on pretzel bread! 

Here is more of the trail alongside the mountain

A panoramic of the trail on the left and right with a lookout point in the middle

Just a view along my hike!

I have arrived in Cureggia, which is above Pregassona, where we live. What a great view from this Grotto restaurant! 

One of the yards in the town of Cureggia. Gosh, I wish I could be invited to a party here!